Manchester United's Champions League defeat away to Basel means they will now compete in the Europa League. Photograph: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters

Manchester United season-ticket holders will not be forced to buy tickets for the Europa League campaign.

Ordinarily season-ticket holders have to stump up for home matches in the FA Cup or Champions League, whether they want to attend the game or not.

But United said in a statement: "As part of a review of the impact of Manchester United's participation in the Uefa Europa League, the board has decided to exclude the competition from the compulsory purchase of home cup tickets this season.

"This decision means that season-ticket holders do not have to buy Europa League tickets for matches at Old Trafford."

It would be a surprise if tickets were not cut in price in order to guarantee large crowds to watch opposition that in any normal European campaign would be viewed as unattractive.

Podcast: Manchester City and Manchester United clubs are knocked out of the Champions League as English football is brought down a peg or two. Plus, a look ahead to El Clásico and the weekend's action in the Premier League